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Games can be difficult for numerous reasons. They can challenge the player to hone their skills to the point where they will be able to complete certain tasks. Or they can force the player to memorize certain patterns in order to complete a section of the game. And they can also utilize cheap tactics that back the player into a corner with unfair odds of winning. FIFA 2002: Road to the World Cup falls in the latter category. This is unacceptable considering the fact that FIFA is one of the oldest sports series around. Other long-running sports series, such as EA Sports’ Madden and NHL franchises, have improved with age by perfecting the details of simulating the sports they represent. One would think that EA would do the same to the FIFA series. Unfortunately, the developers appear to know little about how football is played in real life. FIFA 2002’s main draw is its full use of the FIFA license, and in this area the game does not disappoint. Every single club and national team you could think of (with the exception of World Cup underdog Senegal) is represented. Numerous club leagues in locations from England to Israel also make appearances. On paper, this is an unstoppable force that should propel FIFA above other soccer games like Konami’s ISS and Winning Eleven series. But close examination reveals EA’s lack of attention to detail. Many kits are just plain inaccurate. Additionally, many players on lesser known teams are represented by number only. The Netherlands are also without any players, which is confusing considering Dutch stars like Marc Overmaars and Patrick Kluivert are on their club teams. While this is nitpicking, it is representative of the lack of polish that tarnishes nearly every aspect of the game. There are a fair amount of game options that the player can choose from. Regular modes include friendlies, World Cup qualification, tournaments, and league play. Unfortunately, since EA Sports wanted to milk m ore money out of the game, you cannot play in the World Cup after qualifying for it – for this you must buy a separate game. Luckily, you can make custom tournaments with identical formats to the World Cup. This makes this drawback less of a disadvantage. There are different tournaments and special magazine covers to unlock as well in the vein of Madden Cards from EA’s other big game. With all the teams, leagues, and modes that are selectable, fans of the game have a good amount of options at their disposal. There is one major improvement that EA has added to the series, which is the new passing and shooting system. The A button performs a normal pass, B activates a lob, and X shoots. The catch is that the player must control both the direction and power of the pass or shot. For the direction, the player must use the analog stick to direct passes and shots. This is very helpful to pass balls into open space so that teammates can make runs for goal. It also works well for directing shots into the corners of the nets. Additionally, the L and R triggers can be used to add spin to the ball. For strength, a power gauge appears at the bottom of the screen when a pass or shot is attempted. The longer a button is held down, the harder the shot. On the whole, this is far and away the best aspect of FIFA’s gameplay package. It implements a very steep learning curve and will likely have players shouting out in frustration during their first few matches for failing to complete simple passes. With time and effort, though, the system can be mastered. The problem is whether the player will want to expend their time and effort to master the passing and shooting system once they begin to play the game. At first glance, the gameplay of FIFA is excellent. EA has slowed down the action, improved the goalies, and generally made it more difficult to score since FIFA 2001. It is clear they have wanted to push FIFA towards the direction of a true simul ation of soccer. This makes it all the more unfortunate that holes are revealed in the game with each match played. In fact, these holes are so large that it destroys a passing and shooting engine that is very intuitive and enjoyable. One major problem is the lag in controlling your own player. The computer’s favourite tactic is for a defender or midfielder to lob the ball to the strikers. This works too often because of two main problems. Firstly, you cannot control your player immediately while the ball is in the air. By the time you can move your player and get him to stop staring at the lobbed ball, the opposing striker has already gained possession and is making a run on goal. You can try countering this by holding down A or X for a header. Yet this is futile because the computer unfairly wins almost every header on the World Class difficulty level. Your only option becomes forgetting about the ball, letting the opposing striker have a breakaway, trying to sprint to the striker as fast as possible, and checking him by using a soft tackle before he shoots. Suffice to say, this only works about eighty percent of the time and is extremely annoying. Secondly, it is difficult to select the correct player to go to the ball. Often you will be pressing A like a madman only to realize there is no way to select the defender that is closest to the opposing striker. These are major problems with the core of the gameplay. Another issue is the ludicrously cheap computer AI. Unlike EA’s crown jewel, Madden, which has tough but fair AI, FIFA’s computer controlled opponents try to win by cheating. On World Class, their shots will travel at twice the speed as your shots. This means they can score from outside the eighteen-yard box frequently. They win almost every header, making attempts at headers useless. Their goalie will perform like Fabian Barthez against Brazil in 1998 while yours will perform like David Seaman against Brazil in 2002. And they score on at least half of their corner kicks. There is very little the player can do to compensate for this. This is all very reminiscent of Midway games where the computer AI cheats whenever it is down. Well, imagine if this cheating took place throughout the course of an entire game regardless of the score. As a rule, you will have to account for the fact that the computer will score at least two cheap goals every game. This means that in order to win on World Class the scores will have to be unreasonably high. You can switch back to the professional difficulty, but you will end up blowing out the computer opponent every time. The game desperately needs a difficulty setting that sets a median between the easy Professional level and the cheap World Class level. Other major problems plague secondary aspects of the gameplay. Game scores are always too high because money plays exist. If you lob the ball to your star player and sprint towards the goal for a shot, a goal is very likely. Scores approach Sega Soccer Slam proportions rather than real soccer. Fatigue is useless because it is possible to sprint all day long and it will hardly make a dent in the fatigue rating. In fact, player ratings are useless because all players play the same except for a few star players. There is a major bug in player positioning as well. Every time you change your formation, your forwards and midfielders will switch positions. Finally, for a supposed soccer sim, there are very little strategy choices and none that you can call on the fly. Forget about offside traps or counterattacks, because the three selectable offensive and defensive strategies play the same anyway. Separately, these complaints are minor. Combined, they create an extremely frustrating gameplay package that severely hampers the single player experience. The graphics are further evidence that FIFA: Road to the World Cup was a rushed product to be sold near the Gamecube launch. They are near ly identical to the Playstation 2 version, meaning that the colours are rather bland and there is evidence of slowdown at parts of the game. There are some good aspects to the graphics. The crowd looks beautiful, with flag waving and fanatical fans galore. The stadiums look excellent despite the fact that there are only five of them. The grass texture is brilliant up close and there is enough variation in the player models to recognize individual players. Emmanuel Petit has his trademark blonde ponytail while Zinedine Zidane has his bald spot. What kills the graphics are the unrealistic player models and lifeless animation. For the models, they all look like bodybuilders. Their faces are bony, their thighs are outlandishly muscular, and they generally look disproportionate. There are only about five different goal scoring animations, and the control lag in the gameplay leaves a lot of players standing around doing nothing. Without a doubt, this looks like a first generation Gamecube game. It is a shame that so many games today are killed by a lack of attention to detail. This is clearly the case with FIFA: Road to the World Cup. While the foundation of a good game exists with the excellent passing and shooting engine, this is rendered void by poor controls, cheap AI tactics, unrealistic scores, and a lack of strategy. This would all be forgivable if FIFA was designed as an arcade game. Yet it tries to market itself as a soccer sim, and this is why these gameplay faults are inexcusable. It is evident that EA Sports is relying on the FIFA license to sell this game. If the license means a lot to you, and you are using the game primarily as a multiplayer game, then FIFA is a good buy at its current low price. Just get a PS2 and get Pro Evolution Soccer, it is just plain superior.

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FIFA 2002 is,in my opinion, the most abysmal game i have ever played. Graphically the game is sound, and the commentary is good. But where the game lacks big time is Gameplay. Gameplay is without a shoadow of doubt the single most important thing in a game, if theres non existent, then im going far enough to say this isnt a game. Where is it? Do you people at EA take us for mugs? I simply cannot believe it. Previous versions of FIFA have been ok, like FIFA 99. But maybe i was a bit to naive back then. Players are sluggish, it seems as if everyone can do the skills, even Tony Adams. Dont buy this game, if your after some realistic, stylish football, with respectable scores. On the other hand if you want to just kick the ball about, score 10 goals per game, and make a fool of yourself when you give it back to the shop, then buy it. Pro Evolution soccer(konami) murders FIFA 2002 when it comes to gameplay. Buy that, at least then youll get your moneys worth.

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Well this series of football games used to have the undesputed crown for the best console computer games series, however that is now a distant memory as the same game is repackage under a different name time and time again! This is still a good game with slightly crisper graphics than its predecesors, yet once you know what your doing its very easy to win games. if you want to buy a football game go for the ISS/pro evolution games. FIFA does have one component which could make it a contender for the ISS crown, and that its managerial option. All in all a good game but not a patch on ISS

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"Ticky on professional or world class modes"

Think FIFA. Think graphics. Think realistic players. Think comedy touches and shallow game play. Think all the things that make EA's franchise the most popular, critically debated football game in history... and forget the bleedin' lot. FIFA has changed. It's grittier. It's deeper/ It's less visually striking...and it's not such a good game. By attempting to tread on Pro Evolution Soccer's hallowed turf, EA's cash cow has forgotten everything that made it so popular. Like Custar's last stand and Kevin Keegan's Newcastle, FIFA 2002 is brave but tragically ill advised. Sick of critical manuals, EA have taken the studs off FIFA's rusty old game play and created a more robust passing model to complete with the rigours of the modern game. While the new system is undeniably flexible, the results are far less intuitive. As the ball pings past your players' feet for the umpteenth time, you'll shamefully yearn for the automated passing of old. The ball movement is completely open-ended. Players define the power and direction of every pass - negating the need for a through ball button. While - technically - more accurate than the semi-automated systems of other footy games, there're times when you can't give the easy ball. For every 40-yard defence-splitting pass, there's a misplaced tap from two yards. You need to line up every ball measured precision, crippling the flow of play. The system can feel delightful. You'll jink past your man with a silky step-over, apply a deft curling cross-using 'L2'and watch in delight as your player slams the ball home. But while the amateur difficulty level gives you the luxury of time, the professional and world-class modes are merciless. You can't think - or act - quickly enough to cope with the computer's industrious tackling and impausable passing moves. It's agonising to see the opposition grace the ball about like Real Madrid, when you can't make a simple pass without GCSE-level concentration. Criminally, there's no training mode to ease you into the action. After hours of match practice you still can't emulate the heroics of the computer teams - it almost looks like they're using different controls. Things do improve with time - you'll string together some solid moves and occasional flashes of genius - but this point is, things shouldn't be this difficult. A truly cultured game - like Pro Evolution - makes it easy to achieve a basic level of competence, then applies invisible layers of depth to encourage extended play. EA's game is just too difficult. It's a shame, as FIFA's traditional failings have been rectified. Shooting is flexible, allowing players to round their keeper and score from obtuse angles. Tackles are solid with better-defined collision zones, while the dribble tricks have been reduced in effectiveness to make them more rewarding. Aside from the ball movement games flow much more like the real thing. For bystanders - safe from the aggravating controls - this is easily the most dynamic FIFA to date. Presentation's a mixed bag. The stadiums are great with rich firework plumes, active crowds and micro fine grass, The commentary's awesome, accurately monitoring play without repetition and evoking genuine emotion. The swooshy cut scenes use shatter fades and TV tricks to heart-pumping effect. But, and this is a BIG but, the players look terrible. There're only about 16 different faces! The player's are so muscular, The Rock would be scared to make a tackle. The Juan Veron model is laughably inaccurate. FIFA 2002 might be deeper, bit it isn't more fun. Clumsy implementation, shabby player models and lack of visual finesse negate the rich game play. Once again, we're left waiting for the next FIFA game to see if EA can put things right. And you can bet that with the World Cup looming, we won't be waiting too long.

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"NOTHING LIKE PRO EVOLUTION"

MY BROTHER BOUGHT THIS GAME AND WHILE PLAYING IT I SAID TO MYSELF THIS COULD BE A GREAT FOOTBALL GAME. BUT AFTER A FEW DAYS THIS BECAME THE WORST FOOTBALL GAME I EVER PLAYED. NOT ONLY IS IT EASY TO SCORE BUT YOU CAN SCORE FROM KICK OFF AND THERES NO WAY TO STOP IT GOING IN. OVERALL THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A GREAT FOOTBALL GAME BUT IT WASN'T. IF YOU HAVENT GOT IT DONT GET IT GET PRO EVOLUTION SOCCER INSTEAD.

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EA Sports began producing the FIFA Football series in the early 1990s, with a newer, updated version of the computer game being released every year. It started on the good old Sega Megadrive, progressed onto the Sony Playstation 1 and now, has evolved onto the Playstation 2 console with the release of FIFA Football 2002.

The general idea behind the game is to play football!! Control the players in Premiership teams to try and win cups and competitions in an attempt to eventually qualify for the World Cup.

You can even take part in friendly matches along the way. When it comes to playing matches, you can choose which stadium you would like to play in and select your choice of weather condition. For the lazy ones among us, you can also choose to opt out of your next match and the result will automatically be created for you! You can also play up to three consecutive seasons which has not been possible up until now.

The 2002 version of FIFA has the most content ever featured in a football game. There are more leagues and over 450 teams, 125 of which are international. This is the first time that international teams have been included on a FIFA game.

The game is easy (ish!) to play and control if you have had experience of the FIFA series before. There are basic moves which are quite easy to pick up but it is a bit more complicated getting the hang of the combination of buttons for the more advanced gameplay, especially if you are a new player. The manual included with the disc offers good guidelines so dont be put off.

The usual gameplay is involved when it comes to tackling, heading, volleying and aiming your shot but it now has extra features making the matches more realistic and challenging. You can now hear other players actually call for the ball, and you can pass and play the ball into spaces whereas on previous games, it was automatically passed to your nearest player.

Another great new feature on FIFA 2002 is that you have the ability to do quick one-twos, passing to a player and him passing straight back - ideal for bypassing a defending player!

There is now an extra, previously unavailable, bonus system included in the game. There are five new competitions that you can unlock throughout the game. This occurs as a reward when you qualify for certain cups.

Unlike other versions of the game, you now have the advantage of being able to score from virtually anywhere but it is difficult to score (a lot harder than it used to be!). Unfortunately, the goal celebrations that are shown are not very imaginative.

New customisable features are included where you can actually create and save your own leagues and teams. Before, you could only edit existing players but now, you can also create your own - even down to the colour of their boots!

The graphics are excellent and definately the best on a FIFA soccer so far. The pitch has new texture details but there still isnt much detail in the crowds. The players are very realistic as they now have different facial characteristics and even different body proportions in comparison to each other. The team strips actually show the real-life current sponsors too.

Commentary during matches is provided by Andy Gray and John Motson. This tends to get boring and a bit repetitive as there are only a small selection of key phrases. You can choose to turn this off though which is good.

As I mentioned earlier, the aim of the game is to qualify for the World Cup. Once you have achieved this, it unfortunately doesnt go any further. It would be good if this was developed so that in future releases of the game, we could actually participate in the World Cup competition.

The background music is quite good and has a better selection than some other versions of the game. Tracks included are by artists such as Gorillaz, BT, Schiller and DJ Tiesto to name a few.

There is also access to an out-takes section where you can view footage of the computer generated players making mistakes Dennis Norden style. Watch players fall and take air-swings at the ball!

As for the price, it is quite expensive. Some packages have this game included when you buy the Playstation 2 console but if you were to buy it brand new, it would set you back approximately £45. A used version is still quite pricey at the moment - around £30, but it only keeps its price because it is such a popular game. I think it is definitely worth the money.

I would say that FIFA Football has gradually got better and better over the years. I have played on most (if not all!) of the versions and the 2002 release is without doubt the best one so far. If it continues to improve, just imagine what we have got to look forward to a few years down the line - it will be amazing!!!

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If the PFA decided that the footballers are going to strike, then grab yourself a copy of FIFA 2002 and settle down to some virtual action…. The FIFA series for producing football simulation games for the PC has been going since 1995 with their first release, and has kept going ever since with a new version released each year, usually just in time for the Christmas market. Produced by EA sports, (electronic arts), it is consistently one of the best, with rivals like ISS and Actua Soccer coming in behind. Though they may be criticized for each game being a little too similar, like they claim, they are the kings in this game. Will their latest offering be any different? Ok, so where do you want to begin? Basically the whole idea of the FIFA series is a football based game that you take control of a team, and try to win as much as possible. You physically control the player’s movements, the shots, the passes and tackles go through you. This is not a management sim, though you can change the tactics and substitutions. There are three difficulty settings, amateur, professional, and world class. Armature is the easiest, and very easy, simply for finding your feet at first. The other two are harder, though with time you can master even the top setting. Once you have done this the game loses a lot of its charm, this can be anything from a few days to a few months, depending how much you play it. Basically the game is split into the competitions that can be found in real life. The main options are to do a full season, a cup competition, friendly or a world cup qualification. All are pretty self-explanatory, a friendly is a one off game to test any two teams, cups include the European Cup, FA Cup, though some need to be unlocked (more on that later). In world cup qualification you guide your chosen team from four qualifying zones to qualification for the FIFA world cup to be held in Japan and S. Korea next summer. A season allows you to play a league calendar, with league tables, but with other cup competitions throughout the duration. The season is a new addition; it allows much more interaction, as you can play over more than one year, with cups added into the same game. You can qualify for Europe if you do well, or face relegation if you do less well. If you do even better an win some things, there are a selection of hidden or locked competitions for you to uncover as the game progresses. For example if you quality a team from the UEFA group in world cup qualifying, then you unlock the European Championships competition. This is a nice little touch, it adds a bit of enjoyment and long lasting action and enjoyment down the line, whist giving you something to aim for. With each new game that comes out there are certain changes that are made. Some are obvious, some less so, but it takes a good change to make a curial difference to the game overall, and makes me want to buy the game new. For me FIFA 2002 has this, just something extra that takes it above and beyond. The graphics are notably better, not just the new textured pitches, or the smoother animation, but just general advances. For the first time, EA have got the licensing needed to reproduce the players faces. That’s right, in FIFA 2002, you can actually tell the difference between players as they look (reasonably) like their real life counterparts. People also look different sizes, for example Paul Scholes is quite short, while faced against the larger Sol Campbell. Also there are plenty of action off the pitch, from subs warming up, linesmen, advertising hoardings and cameramen. A few things, when you score a goal, the net bulges, but the ball does not go into the bulge, and linesmen leave a lot to be desired. It is all an improvement, though it is not perfect there are big changes and the graphics are quite something, very nice while still giving good, playable speeds. Other new features include an improvement in the general game play of the game. There is more of a feeling with the players, you have more control over their actions, while adding new commands and skills to the game, as well as general control. A new feature, one of the most useful is the chance to give players runs, and play the ball into space. People can run onto through balls, on the other versions all passes were played to feet. Little coloured blots appear in front of a player just as he sets off on a run, showing where he will run to, you press a button to tell him to make the run and press pass and it you are good or lucky them you will play a perfect through ball. Also an option to play little one-twos with players has been added, as has new ball skills and fakes. The shooting and passing methods have also been changed in the latest version. In the old games, shots and passes were automatically aimed to the goal, or the nearest player. In 2002 there is much more control over the direction of the ball by the person. It is possible to widely miss the target, and play very sloppy passes. To shoot you hold down the button, and a bar will appear in the bottom on the screen. When it reaches the top end it will turn green for a maximum power shot, release the button and you are off with a screamer into the top corner (allegedly). If you hold it down too long it will go red, and miss by a long way. You can also put curve on the shots, the computer has obviously mastered this, sadly I am some way off this yet. The improvements are for the better, it is much more realistic and I feel better, though some may say it is harder. The big decision is if it is worth purchasing the new game. For the PC you will have to pay at least £30, probable closer to £35 and on the playstations in the region of £40. There is very little difference between the two latest versions, but in Virgin where I got my copy, FIFA 2002 and 2001 were side by side, both for the same price. If you have not got a recent versi on of this series, then FIFA 2002 represents new heights of graphics and game play, for others it may be less so, and a waste of £35. The choice is yours, though I strongly recommend this, it is THE best football game at the moment, and great value whatever you pay for it. NB, sorry this is in the wrong category, strictly specking this should have been in the PC version of the game, but I could not find one. The games itself are very similar, there is very little difference in game play and the layout is the same. Obviously on a PC, the power of your computer will decide how well the game runs instead of a uniform performance. Just to let you know, apologies from me, Chris

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This has to be the only game that comes out each year, but yet this one seems to be worth it. The main improvement in FIFA 2002 is gameplay, designed to make the playing experience a bit more exciting and realistic. If you have just got yourself a bargain PS2 for less than £199 then this will be a great treat to go alongside the mighty hardware. If however, you bought last year's FIFA don't expect too much apart from new player moves and animations. While EA Sports leads the way graphically like many of its other sports titles, other football games can play significantly better. One area FIFA definitely shines ahead of other games is in the commentating. With many options including a World Cup Qualifying mode. FIFA 2002 is certainly attractive. But is it the best PlayStation 2 football game? It?ll do for now. Nevertheless here is an enjoyable exciting game. If you haven?t got any of the previous versions of FIFA then this is a great game. If you do then don?t bother.

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FIFA is already known for its excellent graphical detail, this version of FIFA will rock the world of the old favourite ISS. It all depends on which game you prefer. With all-new open passing, the FIFA gamer has more control and precision than ever before. Which does actually make it harder to play. FIFA 2002 will offer more licensed, teams, leagues and competitions than any other game in the industry. Combined with great new single-player features, a unique reward system which gives you new competitions, and the chance to qualify your country for 2002 FIFA World Cup. Also the new passing system incorporates an open-ended and flexible passing model. Pass the ball into space, one-twos and utilize through-balls. Direct your teammates on strategic runs through the defence. The new system is enjoyable for players of all levels, creating a deeply satisfying football experience. All new tackling and referee model: Now, the timing and angle of your tackles determine success or incur the wrath of the referee. Gamers are accountable for their team's behaviour, requiring the gamer to gauge risk versus reward when making plays. The new game has totally been re-invented which might give the new ISS game “Pro Evolution Soccer” which look very good just have to see if it has all the teams and competitions like FIFA.

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Well what can be said, EA have finally removed nearly all the usefull options of play from FIFA Football 2002. Nearly.... I got the game home, could not wait to get my mates round and set up our new league. I phoned them up, they arrived, we loaded the game up and to my shock and horror EA HAVE REMOVED THE ABILITY TO SET UP YOUR OWN LEAGUES AND CUPS WITH MORE THAN PLAYER!!!!!!!!! The game of football is about having beer with your mates and shouting and screaming. You get your mates round, you get the fridge stocked with beer, and you tear each other apart on the field. But alas the only way to play your friends in the new FIFA Football 2002 is a simple friendly game. VERY DISSAPOINTED!!!! The game does play a little better however in single player (The only option really) and the new passing system is much better than the FIFA 2001 effort, the sound is also slightly better, but no offence Mottie your comments get repetative. So if you are a lonely football fan and have loads of time on your hands, then this game maybe for you. But if you have lots of mates that like a good gubbing in the leagues. FORGET IT!

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There is no need for me to state the obvious. We all know that over the last few years we have been quickly losing faith in EA sports. With 'new' versions of FIFA hitting our computer store shelves and each year a sense of disappointment overwhelming us with in hours of trying the new game. EA have told us that this year will be different. However, EA say this every year and of course they are going to say it, they are looking to sell as many copies of FIFA as possible. We can't blame them for that... I mean what do you expect them to say? 'Please buy FIFA 2001, the gameplay is unrealistic and you'll get sick of it within a week'? Of course not... they are just doing what any good company should do and marketing their product correctly. What you're about to read is not your usual computer game review. Instead of talking you through FIFA 2002 (you can get those kind of reviews on any games site) and telling you what it has to offer and what it doesn't offer, I have simply picked all the good points and bad points and given my opinions on them. Here we go! ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ -- Gameplay! Without a doubt this is the area EA needed to improve on. If they didn't this year, I know that many FIFA fans would have completely lost faith in EA and FIFA would very soon be lying second behind Pro Evolution Soccer as the most popular football video game. Thank you EA, you have definitely changed the gameplay and it has been a change for the better! FIFA 2002 does not feel like any other FIFA. Gameplay wise, it is a whole new game and it is as if you have gone back in time 4 years and picked up your first copy of FIFA 98. Gone are the pinpoint accurate passes, lobs and shots. If you're not aiming directly to your teammate, your pass will not go directly to his feet. If you see a ma ssive gap up field, you can now thread a nicely timed through-ball and have one of your speedy forwards run onto it. But make sure you are precise with the power on your through-ball. Just one minute extra push of the new power-bar and the ball will be out into touch. FIFA 2002 feels like real football. As an example, if you are attacking down one side of the pitch and your nearest team mates are all marked closely, you quickly switch play with a sharp long ball across to your opposite winger and start attacking down that particular side. Let's take a look at some of the many points that make the FIFA 2002 gameplay a winner: The players now react to different situations on the ground realistically. Eg. if you take a shot at goal and narrowly miss, the player who took the shot may fall to his knees in despair. This is not a cut scene similar to what you see after a goal, it happens in real-time play with the same camera view that you are currently playing in. Also, if the ball goes out into touch and some players are chasing it, instead of simply stopping when the ball goes out the players will slowly stop running and turn back. This is hard to explain but you'll immediately notice it when you play the game. EA have completely re-invented and improved the players trapping and controlling skills. Instead of waiting for a ball to hit their feet and then run, your player will run onto a pass and use a variety of different trapping skills to take the ball under control. First time shots are also possible, even if the ball is bouncing slightly and the player doesn't have total control. Players can also shoot with the outside of their boot. You can now tell the difference between players preferred feet and a player will do whatever he can to get the ball onto his strongest foot before shooting. EA have finally included a 1-2 pass. Hit the 1-2 pass button and the playe r you pass the ball to will send it straight back to you. This move is hard to master but scoring a goal after carrying out a perfect 1-2 pass is simply awesome. The CPU also pulls off some very good build up play which can involve 1-2 passes which are very hard to defend. Players can now make mistakes. Sometimes one of your defenders may be running across to take an easy intercept on an attacking through-pass and miss the ball completely. Or perhaps you may go up for a header and miss it. I know that at least once I have taken a complete air-swing at a ball when trying to quickly clear it. No longer can you just smash the shoot button and expect to pull of a perfect volley or bicycle kick. I have been playing FIFA 2002 for two weeks now and I have only ever executed one perfect volley shot and it was tipped away by the keeper. I have definitely missed a lot of volleys and bicycle kicks and in the process made a real goose of myself. The goalkeeper is now much more intelligent and realistic. There are no more 'superman' saves with most on target powerful shots being tipped away. The keeper can also make the odd mistake. He won't make as many as Barthez, but on the odd occasion he might go to catch a powerful shot on his chest and with the pressure of an attacker coming though spill it resulting in a simple tap-in for your attacker. This has only happened to me once in two weeks of playing which I find very realistic. The keeper can now take as many steps as he wants but only hold on to the football for the allowed number of seconds. The goalkeeper can now get a lot more realistic distance on his punt kicks and goal kicks. You can now swing the ball left and right using the left and right 'flippers' on your control pad. The movement is certainly noticeable and comes in really handy when taking long-range shots and placing long through-balls. The defenders tac kling skills and styles have now improved. No longer does a player wrongly just poke his leg out, but players go in with their shoulders and jostle for balls realistically. Players heights and weights are noticeable. In FIFA 2002 if a slow player is racing against a fast player to get to a through-pass the fast player will out sprint the slow player. Many people when they first heard that FIFA 2002 would feature a variety of different through-ball options feared that all you'd have to do in FIFA 2002 to score was send one of your players on a run, send a through-pass to his feet and you'd score. Rest assured, the CPU is too smart for that. If you send a player on a run, the CPU will send a defender with that player and mark him closely. Just like in real life, most through-passes you send will either be cut off, or not be accurate enough for your attacker to get to them. Although still only having three difficulty levels, FIFA 2002 is a much harder challenge than any previous FIFA edition. Personally, when I first got FIFA 2001 I was playing in World-class mode with in 24 hours of owning the game. After two weeks I am still on Professional mode and each match is a real challenge. This is another reason why I feel FIFA 2002 will be a far longer-term investment than any other recent FIFA game. Gone are the stupid special moves and they have been replaced by two realistic ones. You can now beat a player by running your foot over the ball and darting around him, and you can now fake a shot. If a defender is sprinting across at 100 miles per hour and you're about to shoot, you can easily fake the shot, sending your defender hurtling past you, put the ball onto your good foot and drill home a scorching shot. You have to be accurate with your shots. Even if you are right in front of goal, if you're not totally accurate you'll miss the goal. There is no simple secre t to scoring. In FIFA 2001, if you knew how to do a cross and a bicycle kick you would always score. I am yet to find a way to always score in FIFA 2002 and I expect there isn't one. Refereeing has definitely improved. The CPU no longer does as many slide tackles as they used to which is far more realistic. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ -- As I say, FIFA 2002 is not perfect. Let's take a look at some areas in the gameplay that EA need to improve on or rethink: CPU shooting options leave a lot to be desired. A CPU attacker may be on a break and just need to draw the goalie and push in for an easy goal. Instead, more than often, the CPU player will get to the 18-yard box and try for a long-range shot. The computer players also shoot from very strange angles which most players in real life would hardly ever consider shooting from. The computer players often miss very easy open goals by kicking the ball unnecessarily hard. EA need to work on the computers shooting realism before we could ever consider FIFA 2002 as the all-round perfect football game. Although FIFA 2002 boasts an array of terrific new camera angles that are easily adjustable, the ball sometimes ends up out of the camera shot meaning you don't know where the ball is going. This only happens very rarely but it is certainly something EA need to take a look at. Perhaps a patch could be released to fix this. I'm not sure if this is a good or a bad point. I have noticed that the ball hits the post quite a lot. It is definitely exciting, but I'm not sure if it is totally realistic. As I mentioned, refereeing has improved but the ref is still not strict enough. Even when you set the ref to be extremely strict, he may penalise you, but he won't pull out the yellow or red card as often as he should. -------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------ One point that I have made a few times while answering questions in the Soccer Gaming Forums has been the style of game FIFA 2002 is. If you can remember back to FIFA 98 and WC98 you would remember that those games were definitely 'running games'. You'd get a man and pull of a special move, beat five players and score a magnificent goal. Although, when we got FIFA 99 and FIFA 2000 we discovered the world of passing. In those games you'd be forced to pull off a series of quick, 'pinball' like passes to have a chance of scoring a goal. The great thing about FIFA 2002 is that it encompasses both passing and running. The passing is realistic and as I have mentioned, the accuracy of your passes evolves around how well you have perfected your skills. While passing is important in FIFA 2002, running is still equally as important. Often you will be placed in a situation where you must out sprint a man, or beat him with a special move. To be a FIFA 2002 champion you must know how to pass, lob, shoot, run, defend and of course, score. So is FIFA 2002 any better this year? Yes, it definitely is. Is it any different from the past FIFA's that have merely changed since FIFA 98? Yes, definitely. FIFA 2002 has a whole new feel about it and that is why FIFA 2002 is with out a doubt the best FIFA since EA decided to get serious and create FIFA 98. FIFA 2002 is not perfect, but it will keep you interested for many months. It is tough, yet satisfying and with the thousands of third-party patches you'll be able to download here at Soccer Gaming will be the best FIFA ever. I would give FIFA 2002 a score of 92 per cent.

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When you look at the FIFA series over the last few years, they have been more of an evolution rather than a revolution. Yes, the graphics and sound improved, the game play was tweaked every year; but you always knew what to expect. FIFA 2002 is a pleasant surprise, its now all about tactical game play, decisive quick one-twos and good approach play. With an all new passing system, and the ability to direct players ready for those 30-yard defence-splitting passes, this game has come of age. Long gone are the days of those glorious solo runs, or legging it down the wings to the corner flag and crossing the ball to the waiting striker that never missed. It took me a while to get used to the new control system and updated game play, but believe me it's a far more rewarding game to play. Especially as you watch the back of your opponents net bulge with that sweet curling shot you just let fly. Ultimately for me, FIFA 2002 is the football gaming revolution I have been waiting for. The game play is by far the best currently available, the graphics are indeed an improvement over its predecessors, and with neat little touches like being able to hear the players call for the ball, no stone has been left unturned when its come to updating this game. All new football games on any platform are going to be benchmarked against this game. Simply put, JUST BUY IT!

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"ISS is better"

FIFA 2002, it must be Christmas again, well nearly. This is the time of year we come to expect a new FIFA release, but are these games any good and is this one the best? Well the answer to these questions is this, again it’s better than that years but not in giant leap terms. The game has been completely overhauled in the passing area of things, which is what it needed. Passing is much better, players make runs and so one and passes can be met with these runs there is added satisfaction when that little chiped/flighted ball over the top goes right onto the path of a running player. Runs from players can not bee seen by a dotted line in the path of the player (where he is going to run) this is a little useful, more useful than previous FIFA games but, it just doesn’t seem to work the same as ISS’S through ball system. Of course the game has many other points which have always been the back from FIFA 95. All the players from international and Top division world club football, all the cup and all the official cups and leagues. The FIFA games always had the better stats for the football players when it came to it’s main rival ISS. Now though the new ISS (Pro evolution soccer) uses all the stats from the PC classic Championship manager 2001/2002 which I would say is slightly more accurate. The key features of this new release of FIFA are; Key Features: Innovative New Passing System: FIFA 2002's new passing system incorporates an open-ended and flexible passing model. Pass the ball into space, utilize through-balls and one-two's. Direct your team-mates on strategic runs thru the defence. The new system is enjoyable for players of all levels, creating a deeply satisfying football experience. All new tackling and referee model: Now, the timing and angle of your tackles determine success or incur the wrath of the referee. Gamers are accountable for their team's behaviour, requiring the gamer to gauge ri sk versus reward when making plays. FIFA: World Cup 2002 Qualification Mode: Experience the highs and lows of qualification for the FIFA World Cup 2002. Select from international teams and begin your journey to Korea/Japan 2002. This will incorporate more user feedback than ever before, including an expanded injury-fatigue system and informational "hotsheets" which update user to status of teams, players, upcoming opponents, etc. A customisable controller allows users the flexibility to re-program buttons and control the action on the pitch to their liking. Player detail is better than ever before, including more authentic faces, hairstyles, player accessories, etc. "In the game" audio featuring localized commentators and dynamic differentiation between home and away SF/X. FIFPro License that includes all the names and likenesses of FIFPro's member associations. Friendly, League, Custom, Training and FIFA World Cup Qualification game modes. Over 75 licensed national teams and 16 licensed leagues including the English Premier League, German Bundesliga, Spanish Premier League, the French LNF, and Major League Soccer (MLS). Cinematic cut-scenes seamlessly capture all the action -players experience the impact, pain and emotion of a world-class game. This does all look very impressive but I have played the game, and guess it only seem a much bigger leap in standards that FIFA 2000 to FIFA 2001 was. This still is a great game for detail and has go even more so with the awesome power of the PS2, with all the teams and all the players this game is guaranteed to sell by the bucket load. But the players still seem to move a bit robotic like, unlike the ultra realistic movement of the International Superstar Soccer football games, they seem to judder/pause before passing. It’s just not quite right, but hey it’s a computer game. Also the demo is now available for download at the EA we b site so see if its for your Christmas stocking It will probably still be in mine, as the FIFA series is a great playable game, more fun and Arcadey then Pro evolution soccer, both are good for different people. ***FIFA 2002 PS2= RATING 80% 8/10***

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ok so it is'nt out yet but from what i have seen and heard this is gonna be the god father of all FIFA games!listed here are some of the hot points on the game obviusly i can't give bad poits until i have played the game if there are any of course! i can say i am a proud owner of FIFA2001 at the moment alough the game lacks a lot and is way way to easy it is still fun it's some thing with FIFA games you can never get bored of them that is why they are such good value for there money ussually alough i must say with all the hype leading upto the relaese of fif1 2001 i was rather dissapointed when i first went on it alough it is a stunning game it just lacked some major factors which a game like fifa needs and hopefully this is what fifa 2002 will improve on and the game will then be declared the godfather of all fifa games!any way here is what i can tell you about the new fifa game! EA SPORTS has re-invented the best-selling FIFA series with the most complete football game ever – FIFA 2002. With the totally re-invented game-play and stunning graphics, FIFA 2002 is poised to deliver the most complete sports game ever. Already known for its graphic excellence, FIFA fires its most powerful shot at the competition. With all-new open passing, the FIFA gamer has more control and precision than ever before. Find a breaking forward with a perfect 40-yard ball into open space, embarrass the tightest defense with cunning one-twos, or fool any keeper with deep swerving crosses. FIFA 2002 will offer more licensed leagues, teams, and competitions than any other game in the industry; combined with great new single-player features, a unique reward system, and the chance to qualify your country for 2002 FIFA World Cup. With the totally re-invented game-play and stunning graphics, FIFA 2002 is poised to deliver the most complete sports game ever. so i think this game is gonna be a huge hit for any fifa fan it wi ll be availible on playstation,playstation2 and of course PC! You're going to have to do some training to become the master of FIFA 2002